Climate 2025 Responds to Delhi Police Queries in 'Toolkit' Case, Stands By Peaceful Protesters

 Climate 2025 is a not-for-profit social enterprise that assists climate-related startups, social movements and projects.

 

 

New Delhi: Climate 2025, a not-for-profit social enterprise that assists climate-related startups, social movements and projects, has issued a statement saying that the Delhi Police Special Cell has issued a notice to the company. This is related to the police’s protest ‘toolkit’ investigation.

“We provide fiscal hosting and consulting services. We do so on a pay as you feel basis to enable access to support to those movements who otherwise may not be able to afford it. We do not offer legal advice or representation,” Climate 2025’s statement says. It continues that the company “services include facilitating payments to individuals and organisations who deliver consulting support to movements working for systemic change”. In March 2021, the statement says, the police contacted the company “regarding several individuals who have received payments for their consulting services”.

The police had brought up the company in court when talking about the allegations against Shantanu Muluk, a young climate activist named in the ‘toolkit’ case. Muluk received routine foreign remittances while volunteering at Climate 2025, the police said, and had “failed to satisfactorily explain the actions and activities that he undertook in lieu of the funds received on a monthly basis”.

Climate 2025 said they have responded to the police’s queries. “In accordance with our values and our contracts with the specific movement (Extinction Rebellion Global Support) and individuals in question, we have submitted a statement to the Indian authorities in response to their request for information.”

The company has also reiterated its support for non-violent protests and movements working to bring about change. “We stand in solidarity with all persons engaged in non-violent campaigns who face persecution for their role in raising awareness of climate and ecological breakdown. We urge everyone to study and understand the structures and practices of oppression so that their use can be recognised and countered with compassionate, non-violent, collective action – the keystone of democracy.”

The Delhi Police’s ‘toolkit’ conspiracy case – in which it had arrested 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi from Bengaluru – has come under severe criticism. The document which the police is seeing a conspiracy in is simply a list of resources, hashtags and articles for anyone wanting to educate themselves on the farmers’ protest and help spread the word. Toolkits of this kind are extremely common in protest movements.

 

While granting bail to Ravi, a Delhi court had come down heavily on the police. “Considering the scanty and sketchy evidence available on record, I do not find any palpable reasons to breach the general rule of ‘Bail’ against a 22 years old young lady, with absolutely blemish free criminal antecedents and having firm roots in the society, and send her to jail,” the court had said.

The judge came down heavily on the police’s case:

 

“The perusal of the said ‘Toolkit’ reveals that any call for any kind of violence is conspicuously absent. In my considered opinion, Citizens are conscience keepers of government in any democratic Nation. They cannot be put behind the bars simply because they choose to disagree with the State policies.”

“The offence of sedition cannot be invoked to minister to the wounded vanity of the governments.”

SOURCE ' THE WIRE

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(With input from news agency language)

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